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Release of RNA polymerase from vero cell mitochondria after herpes simplex virus type 1 infection

T Tsurumi1, I R Lehman

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Beckman Center, Stanford University, California 94305-5307.

Journal of Virology
|January 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Herpes simplex virus type 1 infection of Vero cells activates a DNA primase activity. This activity is actually a mitochondrial RNA polymerase released into the cytosol due to viral infection.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection can alter host cell machinery.
  • Vero cells are a commonly used cell line in virology research.
  • Mitochondrial RNA polymerase plays a crucial role in mitochondrial gene expression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the nature of the DNA primase activity observed in HSV-1 infected Vero cells.
  • To determine if the observed activity is related to host cell enzymes.

Main Methods:

  • Partial purification of the enzyme exhibiting DNA primase activity from infected Vero cell extracts.
  • Biochemical characterization of the enzyme, including resistance to alpha-amanitin, pH profile, Mg2+ dependence, salt sensitivity, and KmATP.
  • Analysis of the synthesized nucleic acid products.

Main Results:

  • A DNA primase-like activity was detected in soluble extracts of HSV-1 infected Vero cells.
  • The partially purified enzyme (Mr ~100,000) showed identical biochemical properties to the catalytic core of Vero cell mitochondrial RNA polymerase.
  • The synthesized products were characteristic of RNA polymerase activity, not DNA primase activity.

Conclusions:

  • The observed DNA primase activity in HSV-1 infected Vero cells is attributed to mitochondrial RNA polymerase.
  • Viral infection likely causes mitochondrial membrane disruption, releasing the RNA polymerase into the cytosol.
  • This finding suggests a novel mechanism by which viruses may co-opt host cellular machinery.

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